Carton retaining band



Dec. 20, 1938.

H. 1-1. MONK CARTON RETAINING BAND Filed Dec. 3, 1937 HOWARD H- MONK Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARTON RETAINING BAND I Application December 3, 1937, Serial No. 177,921

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a retaining band for locking the flaps of a carton so as to retain them firmly in position. Further advantages and novel features of the invention will be apparent from 8 the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carton showing a retaining band applied to one closure flap.

Figure 2 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 1 with the retaining band slipped over the interlocked closure flaps,

Figure 3-is a sectional view taken .on lines '3'--3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a plan view of the retaining band.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 4 illustrates a retaining band III which is preferably made of stiff cardboard such as is used for making ordinary ice cream, butter and lard cartons. The band In is scored along spaced lines 14 and I! to form panels l2, and Hi. If desired, the band in may be printed with any suitable design or advertising matter IS.

The band I0 is adapted for locking and retaining the outer closure flaps of a conventional carton as illustrated in Figure 1. This carton comprises front wall "5, rear wall l5, and side walls "3 and 20. Inner closure flaps l1 and I9 are integral with walls l8 and 20 respectively. These inner flaps are adapted to be folded over in overlapping relation as shown in Figure 3. Outer closure flaps 2| and 22 are integral with walls l6 and I5 respectively and are adapted to be overlapped and interlocked by a tongue 23 and slot 24.

as In use, the band I0 is folded on score lines H and I5 and is applied to the outer closure flap 22 of a carton in the position shown in Figures 1 and 3 so that panel l2 rests on the upper face of the flap 22 with panels II and I3 folded over in overlapping relation beneath the flap 22 as shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 1, flap 22 is provided with a slit 24 which is adapted to receive tongue 23 of the second outer closure flap 2|. The band I0 is preferably applied to flap 22 while it is in extended open position and before it is folded down over the inner ciosure flaps i1 and I9 and interlocked with flap 2|. The band in is positioned On the extreme left of flap 22, as shown in Figure l and in dotted lines in Figure 3, to expose slit 24. The flap 22 is then folded down over the inner closure flaps I1 and I9 and tongue 23 of flap 2| inserted in the slot as shown in Figure 1. Band I!) is' then moved to the position shown in Figure 2 so as to embrace the two overlapped and interlocked outer closure flaps 2| and 22. In this position overlapped panel portions II and I3 of band Ill are wedged between the overlapped outer and inner closure flaps, and owing to the springiness of the cardboard will 5 serve to retain and lock the outer closure flaps 2| and 22 so that they cannot be disengaged or opened. In order to open the carton it is necessary either to tear the band ID or to move it to the extreme left position shown in Figure 1 10 before the tongue 23 of flap 2| can be removed from slot-24 and the flap opened as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3.

In accordance with this invention a simple inexpensive and efllcient means is provided for re- 16 taining the closure flaps of a carton in closed and locked position. The retaining band is easy to apply and the end panels I and I3 when in overlapped position, owing to the springiness of the cardboard, serve to form a secure and tight fricn tional lock for the closure panels of the carton.

The length of panels II and 13 may be of any suitable dimension but it is preferred that they be made of sufficient length so their ends overlap when applied to the carton closure flaps. In 25 the preferred embodiment of band l0, shown in Figure 4, the length of end panels II and I3 is equal to or slightly less than the length of the intermediate panel |2. The length of intermediate panel 12 is substantially equal to the width 30 of closure flaps 2| and 22. Retaining band Ill may be printed with advertising matter or with instructions to the user of the carton contents. Since the band ||l must be manipulated before the carton can be opened, the attention of the 5 consumer to any printed matter on the band it! is assured.

If desired, the band Ill may be made of cardboard or other suitable flexible sheet materials such as metal foil, celluloid and other syntheti- 40 cally produced flexible sheet materials. When the bands are made of cardboard it is advantageous to make them of the same caliper and stock from which the cartons are made to which they are applied. 45

It is obvious that many modifications and variations may be made of this invention which are intended to be embraced in the appended claims. I

I claim: 50

1. A retaining band for locking carton closure flaps comprising an elongated band of paper having free unconnected end's, spaced score lines in said band forming two end panels and an intermediate panel, the said end panels being adapted to be overlapped beneath the closure flaps of a carton to lock and retain same in closed position.

2. A retaining band for locking carton closure flaps comprising an elongated band of flexible material having free unconnected ends, spaced score lines in said band forming two end panels and an intermediate panel, the said end panels being adapted to be overlapped beneath the 010- sure flaps of a carton to lock and retain same in closed position.

3. A retaining band for locking carton closure flaps comprising an elongated band of paper'- having free unconnected ends, spaced score lines provided in said band forming two end panels and an intermediate panel, the length of said intermediate panel being substantially equal to the width of the closure flaps, the said end panels being adapted to be overlapped beneath the closure flaps of a carton to lock and retain same in closed position.

4. A retaining band for locking carton closure flaps comprising an elongated band of paper having free unconnected ends, spaced score lines provided in said band forming two end panels and an intermediate panel, said panels being substantially of equal length, the length of said intermediate panel being equal to the width of the closure flaps, the said end panels being adapted to be overlapped beneath the closure flaps of a carton to lock and retain same in closed position.

5. A carton having a pair of overlapped inner closure flaps and a pair of outer closure flaps, said outer closure flaps being retaining in closed position on said carton by an elongate retaining band having tree unconnected ends folded about said outer closure flaps, the free ends of said band being in overlapped relation and wedged between the said inner and outer overlapped closure flaps.

6. A carton having a pair of overlapped inner closure flaps and a pair of outer closure flaps, said outer closure flaps being retained in closed position on said carton by a retaining band folded about said outer closure flaps, said band having free unconnected ends and being provided with spaced score lines forming two end panels and an intermediate panel, the length of saidintermediate panel being substantially equal to the width of the outer closure flaps, the said end panels being overlapped and folded under said outer closure flaps and retained between the said inner and outer overlapped closure flaps.

HOWARD H. MONK. 

